Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1887-05-13
THE PLAN OF TAXING MERCHANTS.
DISCUSSION IN THE CHAMBER OF COM
MERGE ON MERCHANTS TAXA
TON

| DISCUSSION IN THE CHAMBER OF COM
MERGE ON MERCHANTS TAXA.
TON.
Some weeks ago the Staunton Chamber
OF commerce adopted some resolutions
setting forth its views of the proper way
10 tax merchants, and the Importance OF
Inc commonwealth, since the drummer g
Tax IS pronounced unconstitutional, adopt.
lug some new mode of taxing business
men. These resolutions which were for
warded to the various Chambers of the
Virginia cities, commanded marked in
terest. In the Richmond Chamber the
, otaunton resolutions were put on record,
and in the Lynchburg Chamber they we're
ADOPTED as the sense of that body, and
with two other resolutions adopted, were
forwarded to their members in the legisla-
lure. On Tuesday night the Staunton
chamber assembled to consider circular
OF inquiry which had been sent out by the
hichmond body asking the views of the
Virginia Chambers of Commerce on three
points,, What constitutes capital; 2,
How is it arrived at, and 3, What rule can
be applied to capital owned in whole or
part, and also in Case where the party
buys wholly on credit. Maj. Alex. Hart
presided.
Mr.. [. Witt said there had been con-
ference Of some of the members of the
body that afternoon on these questions
and he would like to know if it reached
any conclusion.
Mr.. II. Hutchison-The conference
concluded that paper should pc drawn
up embracing its views on this subject
and submitted to full meeting of the
Chamber.
Mr.. P. B. Sublett said the chief point
for ths Mer eci lssss Is make il any fesd=
justment of taxation, was point made by
the constitution itself-equal taxation.
Now, the merchants ara unequally taxed
and what they ask is to be put on the same
footing with other men having capital in
vested. The farmer has now to pay tax
on what he has IN his possession and that
should be the case with the merchant. As
it is now the merchant is taxed for every
time he turns over his capital. The far
mer with S. 600 farm may sell out and
restock his farm several times year and
yet pay no more tax, but the merchant
with $4,000 capital has to pay tax for
every time he sells out and restocks his
store.
Mr.. 9. W. Warden.-How if the mer-
chant has borrowed the $4,000; doesn It he
pay taxes on that and don't the lender pay
taxes on the evidences of the debt too?
Mr.. Sublett.-Y es; that is double taxa
ton, but that IS something we are not now
seeking to remedy. 1t is something the
farmer has to bear too when land bonds
are taxed. All the merchants are asking
just now, is that they be taxed as other
men are, and not more.
Mr. Witt said he agreed with Mr., Sublett
that the amount of capital in possession
was the amount to be taxed, but at diff
ferent times of the year the amount Is
different.
After some conversational debate the
Chamber came to the conclusion that the
inquiries of the Richmond Chamber were
such as to demand deliberate and careful
examination before answering, and ordered
a committee of ten to be raised for their
consideration.
The chair appointed the following COM
mittee-Messrs. M. E. Miller, J. H. Black
ley. A. G. Gordon, Henry Hutchinson, P .
B. Sublett, l. Witt, John W.-Todd, M.
W. Booker, J. Fl. Wayt and W. L. Bum
gardner.